--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I existed in a world that never is - the…" description: "\"I existed in a world that never is - the prison of the mind.\" — Gene Tierney" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de5/gene-tierney-7683_crime_i-existed-in-a-world-that-never-is-the-p_2520146.jpg" --- # I existed in a world that never is - the prison of the mind. ![“I existed in a world that never is - the prison of the mind.” quote by Gene Tierney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de5/gene-tierney-7683_crime_i-existed-in-a-world-that-never-is-the-p_2520146.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de5/gene-tierney-7683_crime_i-existed-in-a-world-that-never-is-the-p_2520146.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de5/gene-tierney-7683_crime_i-existed-in-a-world-that-never-is-the-p_2520146.jpg) > “I existed in a world that never is - the prison of the mind.” [Gene Tierney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-tierney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote reflects feeling trapped by mental constructs that prevent experiencing reality. **In simple terms:** Mind can imprison you. Key Takeaway Challenge limiting beliefs. Themes psychology self‑awareness freedom Mood reflective melancholic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - therapy - creative work - personal growth - mindfulness Key Concepts Existentialism cognitive distortion Questions to Reflect On - What mental barriers hold you back? - How can you reframe limiting narratives? A Different Perspective Changing thoughts can be difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Prison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prison/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“I existed in a world that never is , a prison of the mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-tierney/i-existed-in-a-world-that-never-is-a-prison-of-the-mind/) [Gene Tierney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-tierney/) > [“Of all the bars in the world, prison is the worst, followed closely by the ones that serve alcohol.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/of-all-the-bars-in-the-world-prison-is-the-worst-followed-closely-by/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“I started wondering if God really existed. The world seemed too empty and lonely for there to be a God in it. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippie/i-started-wondering-if-god-really-existed-the-world-seemed-too-empty/) [Hippie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippie/) > [“What they didn’t want to believe, what they tried repeatedly to dismiss, was that whatever good and evil existed in the world came from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-brooks/what-they-didn-t-want-to-believe-what-they-tried-repeatedly-to/) [Terry Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-brooks/) > [“In the beginning I was so young and such a stranger to myself I hardly existed. I had to go out in the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-olier/in-the-beginning-i-was-so-young-and-such-a-stranger-to-myself-i/) Mary Olier > [“Because you’re my favorite person ever. Ever that has ever existed in all the world”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tillie-cole/because-you-re-my-favorite-person-ever-ever-that-has-ever-existed-in/) [Tillie Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tillie-cole/) > [“I wanted a woman who could get me out of a Third World prison. Life's too short to hang out with people who aren't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bezos/i-wanted-a-woman-who-could-get-me-out-of-a-third-world-prison-life-s/) [Jeff Bezos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bezos/) > [“He had become her whole world,a way out of the prison of her own mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-matheson/he-had-become-her-whole-world-a-way-out-of-the-prison-of-her-own-mind/) Lynn Matheson > [You can be locked away in prison and be free if your mind is not a prison. Or you can be walking around with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-can-be-locked-away-in-prison-and-be-free-if-your-mind-is-not-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“Over months of being with him, my prison had become my sanctuary, and now that I was free, the world was my prison. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty-thomas/over-months-of-being-with-him-my-prison-had-become-my-sanctuary-and/) [Kitty Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kitty-thomas/) > [“The world is a prison for the believer and paradise for a non-believer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prophet-muhammad-saw-2/the-world-is-a-prison-for-the-believer-and-paradise-for-a-non-believer/) Prophet Muhammad SAW > [The most miserable prison in the world is the prison we make for ourselves when we refuse to show mercy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/the-most-miserable-prison-in-the-world-is-the-prison-we-make-for-2/) [Warren W. Wiersbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-w-wiersbe/) > [The world is a prison in which solitary confinement is preferable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/the-world-is-a-prison-in-which-solitary-confinement-is-preferable/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [“I’ll dream up a world where you never existed. A world you could never live in. I’ll live there without you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-j-ginger/i-ll-dream-up-a-world-where-you-never-existed-a-world-you-could-never/) Coco J. Ginger > [Why should not every individual man have existed more than once upon this world? Why should I not come back as often as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gotthold-ephraim-lessing/why-should-not-every-individual-man-have-existed-more-than-once-upon/) [Gotthold Ephraim Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gotthold-ephraim-lessing/) ## More by Gene Tierney > [I have a role now that I think becomes me. I am a grandmother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-tierney/i-have-a-role-now-that-i-think-becomes-me-i-am-a-grandmother/) [Gene Tierney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-tierney/) > [When my mood was high, I seemed normal, even buoyant. I felt smarter. I had secrets. I could see God in a light bulb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-tierney/when-my-mood-was-high-i-seemed-normal-even-buoyant-i-felt-smarter-i/) [Gene Tierney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-tierney/) > [The word actress has always seemed less a job description to me than a title](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-tierney/the-word-actress-has-always-seemed-less-a-job-description-to-me-than/) [Gene Tierney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-tierney/) > [Rehearsals and screening rooms are often unreliable because they can't provide the chemistry between an audience and what appears on the stage or screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-tierney/rehearsals-and-screening-rooms-are-often-unreliable-because-they-can/) [Gene Tierney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-tierney/) > [I simply did not want my face to be my talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-tierney/i-simply-did-not-want-my-face-to-be-my-talent/) [Gene Tierney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-tierney/) > [I knew I could not cope with the future unless I was able to rediscover the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-tierney/i-knew-i-could-not-cope-with-the-future-unless-i-was-able-to/) [Gene Tierney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-tierney/) > [The main cause of my difficulties stemmed from the tragedy of my daughter's unsound birth and my inability to face my feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-tierney/the-main-cause-of-my-difficulties-stemmed-from-the-tragedy-of-my/) [Gene Tierney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-tierney/) > [Men are wonderful. I adore them. They always give you the benefit of the doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-tierney/men-are-wonderful-i-adore-them-they-always-give-you-the-benefit-of/) [Gene Tierney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-tierney/) > [Joe Schenck, a top 20th Century-Fox executive, once said to me that he really believed I had a future, and that was because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-tierney/joe-schenck-a-top-20th-century-fox-executive-once-said-to-me-that-he/) [Gene Tierney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-tierney/) > [I remember the 1940s as a time when we were united in a way known only to that generation. We belonged to a common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-tierney/i-remember-the-1940s-as-a-time-when-we-were-united-in-a-way-known/) [Gene Tierney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-tierney/) > [Everyone should see Hollywood once, I think, through the eyes of a teenage girl who has just passed a screen test.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-tierney/everyone-should-see-hollywood-once-i-think-through-the-eyes-of-a/) [Gene Tierney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-tierney/) > [I had no romantic interest in Gable. I considered him an older man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-tierney/i-had-no-romantic-interest-in-gable-i-considered-him-an-older-man/) [Gene Tierney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-tierney/) > [When you have spent an important part of your life playing Let's Pretend, it's often easy to see symbolism where none exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-tierney/when-you-have-spent-an-important-part-of-your-life-playing-let-s/) [Gene Tierney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-tierney/) > [I am not the kind of woman who excuses her mistakes while reminding us of what used to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-tierney/i-am-not-the-kind-of-woman-who-excuses-her-mistakes-while-reminding/) [Gene Tierney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-tierney/) > [As an actress, I was trained to show emotion I did not feel, or no emotion at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-tierney/as-an-actress-i-was-trained-to-show-emotion-i-did-not-feel-or-no/) [Gene Tierney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-tierney/) [Explore all 88 Gene Tierney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-tierney/) ## More Crime quotes > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [“Crime and punishment can be summed up in two classifications: there are bad people and there are people who get into bad situations. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/crime-and-punishment-can-be-summed-up-in-two-classifications-there/) [Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [“The jailers, the Court, everyone in that building – it wasn’t about justice; it was about obedience and intimidation…about maintaining order. Fear accomplished that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-allan/the-jailers-the-court-everyone-in-that-building-it-wasn-t-about/) [Jay Allan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-allan/) > [Taking notes while watching Forensic Files and Snapped. I don't want to make the same mistakes the criminals do! ;)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/taking-notes-while-watching-forensic-files-and-snapped-i-don-t-want/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [A man could be a lover and defender of the wilderness without ever in his lifetime leaving the boundaries of asphalt, powerlines, and right-angled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/a-man-could-be-a-lover-and-defender-of-the-wilderness-without-ever-in/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [Nations sometimes flourish by denying the crimes that brought them into being. Only when the original invasion, occupation, extermination or usurpation has been safely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/nations-sometimes-flourish-by-denying-the-crimes-that-brought-them/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [The danger that may really threaten (crime fiction) is that soon there will be more writers than readers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/the-danger-that-may-really-threaten-crime-fiction-is-that-soon-there/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [“a crime to fell a tree and light it on fire, where coals of hardened shit warmed and stunk up homes,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/a-crime-to-fell-a-tree-and-light-it-on-fire-where-coals-of-hardened/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [A great read; an exciting, frightening account of organized crime today. But like all important works of nonfiction, it goes further… This book is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/le-ly-hayslip/a-great-read-an-exciting-frightening-account-of-organized-crime-today/) [Le Ly Hayslip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/le-ly-hayslip/) > [History is the study of the world's crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/history-is-the-study-of-the-world-s-crime/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [If it comes to a question of law, the charges they brought against me - the Espionage Act - is called the quintessential political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/if-it-comes-to-a-question-of-law-the-charges-they-brought-against-me/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [Too much virtue can be criminal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/too-much-virtue-can-be-criminal/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [The federal prison population increased by almost 800 percent between 1980 and 2013, often at a far faster rate than the Bureau of Prisons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-yates/the-federal-prison-population-increased-by-almost-800-percent-between/) [Sally Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-yates/) > [ \[P\]rogress, however, has not sufficiently infiltrated the Interior Ministry, affording protection to those who participated in the Bytyqi murders and other egregious Milosevic-era crimes. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avis-bohlen/p-rogress-however-has-not-sufficiently-infiltrated-the-interior/) Avis Bohlen [Browse all 8,359 Crime quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I existed in a world that never is - the prison of the mind.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gene Tierney" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-tierney/i-existed-in-a-world-that-never-is-the-prison-of-the-mind/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Crime" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-tierney/i-existed-in-a-world-that-never-is-the-prison-of-the-mind/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de5/gene-tierney-7683_crime_i-existed-in-a-world-that-never-is-the-p_2520146.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de5/gene-tierney-7683_crime_i-existed-in-a-world-that-never-is-the-p_2520146.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de5/gene-tierney-7683_crime_i-existed-in-a-world-that-never-is-the-p_2520146.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I existed in a world that never is - the prison of the mind.” — Gene Tierney", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Gene Tierney", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-tierney/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I existed in a world that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-tierney/i-existed-in-a-world-that-never-is-the-prison-of-the-mind/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-tierney/i-existed-in-a-world-that-never-is-the-prison-of-the-mind/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```